The new members of the Youth Leadership Lompoc Valley program kicked off the 2024-2025 year with a two day retreat on September 14 through 15.To start the day as a YLLV member, we had to wake up early and meet at the Chamber of Commerce by 6:45 AM. The head of the program, Ed Schuler, offered us snacks and orange juice as we waited for the rest of the group to arrive. Once everyone was there, we all got in the vans and headed to Alisal Ranch. We got in the back of a truck and drove 25 minutes up the road. We all got off and were split into two groups to do some small activities. Our first challenge was to make a ball touch everyone in the group in the least amount of time. Then we had to make a marble get to the other side through tubes that each member held. These activities required teamwork, critical thinking, planning, and adjustment. The last activity we did was a trust-based activity. We had to get a partner and hold each other in order to make it across an area while balancing on a rope. They taught us how to spot just in case someone was to fall. At 11:30 AM we headed down to get lunch. We ate sandwiches with fruits and vegetables.
After lunch, we went to the high ropes course. We received harnesses and helmets to be safe and were allowed to play for two hours on the ropes course of our choice. The ropes course included a mini zipline, rock climbing, a team climbing wall, a free fall and an obstacle course. When the two hours were up, we were taken to where a wooden wall was stationed. On our way there we saw a tarantula. We were given the instructions that all eighteen members had to climb the wall. Each player could help boost the other members five times and once someone was up, they could help pull them up. It required a lot of critical thinking and teamwork to get everyone up. It was a very fun activity to end the ropes course and leave after.
We arrived at Camp Whittier after a fun day and settled down for a while. We were free to hang out until 6:00 PM where we would meet for dinner. We were given spaghetti and cookies. The rest of the night was spent at the lodge where we socialized and ate marshmallows. Indigo Partridge explains that “it was super fun and I was really tired after the ropes course. I made some great new memories and friends.”
The next morning we had to all meet in the cafeteria at 8:00 AM. They served us pancakes, eggs and fruit. We had fun teamwork activities throughout the day which made us adapt and use critical thinking. At 12:00 PM we headed up to get lunch. We ate tacos, nachos, rice, beans and Jell-O. Arwen Galisky said that “the food was really good. There were a variety of food options”. We finished the retreat with a very reflective activity. We discussed everything we learned and went to pack everything. Our day ended with our group pictures wearing our new YLLV member shirts.
